Travel West
Events began to happen rather quickly after the marriage of Thomas and Mary for the next record of the location of our ancestor was in Wisconsin on July 8th, 1850 when he filed the sale of his land warrant. This was but 53 days after his discharge in New York. They must have been very busy during this short period. It was no minor feat to travel 1200 miles or more to Wisconsin and then to plan out their future. They obviously had a plan knowing just when to sell and soon after, just where to purchase other land in order to establish a farm of their own and begin raising a family and living off the land.
The Probable Route And Method Of Travel
Since it is known by his obituary notice in 1898, as well as affidavits contained in his military pension files, the Donahue couple traveled to Wisconsin via Great Lakes steamer.
Years later when Mary Donahue applied to the Pension Bureau for a Veterans Widow pension following the death of her husband Thomas, the following affidavit was submitted to Washington D.C. during the process of the application. It is an attempt to provide legitimacy of the application to some degree. The Pension Bureau had rules and regulations to follow and judging by all the affidavits for various reasons that are contained in the pension file for Thomas, a picture emerges as to just how complex the steps to procure a pension really were.
Only a part of the affidavit that describes how the journey to Wisconsin was made is inserted below. The mental picture of the route is the journey began in New York City and by either train or steamer along the Hudson River to Albany where a connection to travel west to Buffalo was made. This second leg of the journey at the time may have been by train since these were the days of rapid railroad expansion but in reality the method of travel for this segment may have been by packet boat along the famed Erie Canal. The canal was nearing the end of it’s heyday due to the new railroad competition but it would have still been a viable method of travel for Thomas and his new wife. We really don’t know but having always been intrigued with the construction of the canal my tendency is to favor the possibility that our ancestors actually did travel on this early monument to construction and engineering capability, achieved with such limited equipment, so early in our country’s history.
As the affidavit explains the remainder of the journey from Buffalo, New York, was by steamer across Lake Erie, through Detroit and then north into Lake Huron to traverse the Mackinac Straits into Lake Michigan and then south to Sheboygan on the western shore of the lake and less than 20 miles from where they soon settled on their land in Manitowoc County.
State of Wisconsin
Manitowoc County
On this 7th day of March, AD 1899 personally came before me a Notary Public in and for the county and State of aforesaid, Henry Mulholland, aged 57 years, a resident of the City of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, who being duly sworn according to law on his oath declares that he is now and has been well acquainted with Thomas Donahue and Mary his wife, now his widow, for about 49 years last past. That this affiant became acquainted with said Thomas Donahue and Mary his wife under the following circumstances:
That this affiant came with his parents, came from the old country (Scotland) landed in New York and while on the way to Wisconsin on a Steamer from Buffalo, N.Y. to Sheboygan, Wis, he became acquainted with said Thomas Donahue and Mary his wife , now his widow. That they continued their journey together to Wisconsin. Said Thomas Donahue had been married to now his widow Mary Donahue but a short time before.
That this affiant settled in the Town of Meeme, Manitowoc County Wisconsin and said Thomas Donahue and Mary his wife settled in the Town of Liberty, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin about one mile distant from where this affiants parents settled; That friendship so gained continued and does to this day.…………………..
Henry Mulholland was but a child when he met Thomas and Mary Donahue on the boat during that trip across the Great Lakes. He was traveling with his parents.
By the time this journey was completed the 34 year old Thomas had managed to establish himself as an experienced traveler considering his original journey out of Ireland to somewhere in North America, perhaps through the Canadian Maritimes, then his travels during his five years in the military. The military brought him west out of Maine, probably to the Cincinnati area, to access the Ohio River, thence down the Mississippi to New Orleans, followed by the journey across the Gulf to Veracruz, Mexico and eventually on to Mexico City. Of course the route was reversed sometime in 1848 or 1849 as far as New York City to his point of discharge from the Army. All this occurring in a time period between about 1842 in Ireland, the year of the birth of his first child, Amelia Bridget, and his stepping on to Wisconsin soil in the early summer of 1850.
Were the Donahue’s Farmers in Ireland ?
Did he have a background of farming in Ireland? Was he one that had to leave the family farm because he could not inherit, the inheritance going to the oldest son of the family? Hopefully these questions will be answered someday.
Most likely, Thomas and maybe even his wife were from a family of farmers. The fact that he and his brother farmed somewhat successfully in Manitowoc County the rest of their lives indicates they probably settled right into the life and were able to provide enough income to support their families. If not they were smart and adaptable regardless of their illiteracy. Of course during these times with rich land available in North America perhaps it was not difficult with outside advice for even a novice to train himself to become a farmer. When one had to feed a family there was strong motivation to become successful.
Why Wisconsin?
The area of Manitowoc County where the family finally purchased land and began to farm may have been chosen due to prior settlement by Irish immigrant farmers. This is mentioned in a clipping found on the Manitowoc Historical Societies web page. The desire to be among others with common background might have been a strong influence in making the decision of where to settle. By word of mouth while in New York awaiting discharge the area of settlement may have been determined long before their marriage even. Land certainly had to have been available in other areas of our expanding country at the time so it is quite possible that the facts of being near other family members or even distant cousins, or at least something in common with other settlers worked into the final decision.
Considering the deliberate route of travel the entire plan in my mind did not come out of mere serendipity. Other influences most certainly were at work suggesting that the young couple had a plan in place in order to completely settle and begin farming in such a short amount of time. Personally I feel that the plan did come together with the aid of family or friends from Galway previously settled in the area. It did not have to be an exclusive Donahue family influence for even his wife Mary may have had some prior connection to Wisconsin as well. Judging from census data of the times the Donahue name stands out as more likely however.
Census and Cemetery records of Manitowoc and other nearby Counties present some very strong evidence of other Donahue’s in the same area of Eastern Wisconsin near the shores of Lake Michigan. The relationship of these families is yet to be established. Something influenced the couple to come to that particular area of the country. If some connection with other relatives in Wisconsin can ever be made, then from the aspect of researching family roots, this might eventually lead to uncover documents for other individuals that reveal exactly where in Ireland our Donahue’s originated. Wishful thinking for certain, but it must always be left open to consideration.
Irish, Germans and Polish, Settle In Manitowoc County
As it turned out the area was eventually settled by two or three primary ethnic groups, i.e. Irish, German and Polish. The Irish and the Polish are known throughout history to have strong ties to the Roman Catholic faith but looking through the names of those buried in the graveyard of the small parish church of St. Isidore in Meeme, there is a strong mix of Irish and German names and local history reflects the many years that the Irish and the German families lived their lives in a small community, on adjacent farms as loyal friends and neighbors. The succeeding generations intermarried and that can even be attested to within our own family tree.
From here the story leads into the details of the Donahue’s purchasing their land and begin farming very soon after arrival. The condition of the land and the events leading up to the eventual purchase is still being researched and brings on new questions to be detailed later.
Events began to happen rather quickly after the marriage of Thomas and Mary for the next record of the location of our ancestor was in Wisconsin on July 8th, 1850 when he filed the sale of his land warrant. This was but 53 days after his discharge in New York. They must have been very busy during this short period. It was no minor feat to travel 1200 miles or more to Wisconsin and then to plan out their future. They obviously had a plan knowing just when to sell and soon after, just where to purchase other land in order to establish a farm of their own and begin raising a family and living off the land.
The Probable Route And Method Of Travel
Since it is known by his obituary notice in 1898, as well as affidavits contained in his military pension files, the Donahue couple traveled to Wisconsin via Great Lakes steamer.
Years later when Mary Donahue applied to the Pension Bureau for a Veterans Widow pension following the death of her husband Thomas, the following affidavit was submitted to Washington D.C. during the process of the application. It is an attempt to provide legitimacy of the application to some degree. The Pension Bureau had rules and regulations to follow and judging by all the affidavits for various reasons that are contained in the pension file for Thomas, a picture emerges as to just how complex the steps to procure a pension really were.
Only a part of the affidavit that describes how the journey to Wisconsin was made is inserted below. The mental picture of the route is the journey began in New York City and by either train or steamer along the Hudson River to Albany where a connection to travel west to Buffalo was made. This second leg of the journey at the time may have been by train since these were the days of rapid railroad expansion but in reality the method of travel for this segment may have been by packet boat along the famed Erie Canal. The canal was nearing the end of it’s heyday due to the new railroad competition but it would have still been a viable method of travel for Thomas and his new wife. We really don’t know but having always been intrigued with the construction of the canal my tendency is to favor the possibility that our ancestors actually did travel on this early monument to construction and engineering capability, achieved with such limited equipment, so early in our country’s history.
As the affidavit explains the remainder of the journey from Buffalo, New York, was by steamer across Lake Erie, through Detroit and then north into Lake Huron to traverse the Mackinac Straits into Lake Michigan and then south to Sheboygan on the western shore of the lake and less than 20 miles from where they soon settled on their land in Manitowoc County.
State of Wisconsin
Manitowoc County
On this 7th day of March, AD 1899 personally came before me a Notary Public in and for the county and State of aforesaid, Henry Mulholland, aged 57 years, a resident of the City of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, who being duly sworn according to law on his oath declares that he is now and has been well acquainted with Thomas Donahue and Mary his wife, now his widow, for about 49 years last past. That this affiant became acquainted with said Thomas Donahue and Mary his wife under the following circumstances:
That this affiant came with his parents, came from the old country (Scotland) landed in New York and while on the way to Wisconsin on a Steamer from Buffalo, N.Y. to Sheboygan, Wis, he became acquainted with said Thomas Donahue and Mary his wife , now his widow. That they continued their journey together to Wisconsin. Said Thomas Donahue had been married to now his widow Mary Donahue but a short time before.
That this affiant settled in the Town of Meeme, Manitowoc County Wisconsin and said Thomas Donahue and Mary his wife settled in the Town of Liberty, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin about one mile distant from where this affiants parents settled; That friendship so gained continued and does to this day.…………………..
Henry Mulholland was but a child when he met Thomas and Mary Donahue on the boat during that trip across the Great Lakes. He was traveling with his parents.
By the time this journey was completed the 34 year old Thomas had managed to establish himself as an experienced traveler considering his original journey out of Ireland to somewhere in North America, perhaps through the Canadian Maritimes, then his travels during his five years in the military. The military brought him west out of Maine, probably to the Cincinnati area, to access the Ohio River, thence down the Mississippi to New Orleans, followed by the journey across the Gulf to Veracruz, Mexico and eventually on to Mexico City. Of course the route was reversed sometime in 1848 or 1849 as far as New York City to his point of discharge from the Army. All this occurring in a time period between about 1842 in Ireland, the year of the birth of his first child, Amelia Bridget, and his stepping on to Wisconsin soil in the early summer of 1850.
Were the Donahue’s Farmers in Ireland ?
Did he have a background of farming in Ireland? Was he one that had to leave the family farm because he could not inherit, the inheritance going to the oldest son of the family? Hopefully these questions will be answered someday.
Most likely, Thomas and maybe even his wife were from a family of farmers. The fact that he and his brother farmed somewhat successfully in Manitowoc County the rest of their lives indicates they probably settled right into the life and were able to provide enough income to support their families. If not they were smart and adaptable regardless of their illiteracy. Of course during these times with rich land available in North America perhaps it was not difficult with outside advice for even a novice to train himself to become a farmer. When one had to feed a family there was strong motivation to become successful.
Why Wisconsin?
The area of Manitowoc County where the family finally purchased land and began to farm may have been chosen due to prior settlement by Irish immigrant farmers. This is mentioned in a clipping found on the Manitowoc Historical Societies web page. The desire to be among others with common background might have been a strong influence in making the decision of where to settle. By word of mouth while in New York awaiting discharge the area of settlement may have been determined long before their marriage even. Land certainly had to have been available in other areas of our expanding country at the time so it is quite possible that the facts of being near other family members or even distant cousins, or at least something in common with other settlers worked into the final decision.
Considering the deliberate route of travel the entire plan in my mind did not come out of mere serendipity. Other influences most certainly were at work suggesting that the young couple had a plan in place in order to completely settle and begin farming in such a short amount of time. Personally I feel that the plan did come together with the aid of family or friends from Galway previously settled in the area. It did not have to be an exclusive Donahue family influence for even his wife Mary may have had some prior connection to Wisconsin as well. Judging from census data of the times the Donahue name stands out as more likely however.
Census and Cemetery records of Manitowoc and other nearby Counties present some very strong evidence of other Donahue’s in the same area of Eastern Wisconsin near the shores of Lake Michigan. The relationship of these families is yet to be established. Something influenced the couple to come to that particular area of the country. If some connection with other relatives in Wisconsin can ever be made, then from the aspect of researching family roots, this might eventually lead to uncover documents for other individuals that reveal exactly where in Ireland our Donahue’s originated. Wishful thinking for certain, but it must always be left open to consideration.
Irish, Germans and Polish, Settle In Manitowoc County
As it turned out the area was eventually settled by two or three primary ethnic groups, i.e. Irish, German and Polish. The Irish and the Polish are known throughout history to have strong ties to the Roman Catholic faith but looking through the names of those buried in the graveyard of the small parish church of St. Isidore in Meeme, there is a strong mix of Irish and German names and local history reflects the many years that the Irish and the German families lived their lives in a small community, on adjacent farms as loyal friends and neighbors. The succeeding generations intermarried and that can even be attested to within our own family tree.
From here the story leads into the details of the Donahue’s purchasing their land and begin farming very soon after arrival. The condition of the land and the events leading up to the eventual purchase is still being researched and brings on new questions to be detailed later.
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